Method and apparatus for producing ice cubes



Feb. 6, 1951 H. B. BENNETT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ICE CUBE-S Filed Jan. 23, 1947 r The primary Patented Feb. 6, 1 951 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ICE CUBES Hazen B. Bennett, West Hartford, Conn.

Application January 23, 1947, Serial No. 723,790

Claims.

" This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing ice cubes and more generally to a method for freezing liquids into different desired forms. 4

I object of the invention is to projvide" an apparatus for producing quantities of ice 'cubes by freezing water or other liquids in suitable molds such as trays containing partitions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which a number of ice cube trays may be filled with liquid, then permitted to freeze, and then subjected to a bath of liquid to loosen the ice cubes from the trays.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the acc'ompanying drawings in which-- 7 Fig. 1 is a plan view, in section on line ll of Fig. 2. s j Fig. 2 is a front view in central vertical section. b Fig. 3 is a sectional front view illustrating a modified form of apparatus which may be used in connection with my invention.

As shown in the drawings, apparatus to be used in connection with my invention may include a freezing unit preferably in the form of a cabinet S having therein a freezing compartment with a plurality of shelves 6 extending across said compartmentto support a plurality of trays 1 having partitions 8 therein of conventional form, such as used in ice cube trays of refrigerators. The walls of the said cabinet 5 may be insulated, if desired, for providing higher efliciency of the freezing unit. v I

The said shelves 6 may contain a refrigerating coil as indicated in dotted lines at 9, which extends through eachof the shelves and has an inlet pipe l0 and an outlet pipe H for supplying a suitable refrigerant through said coil. v

t thetop'of the cabinet 5, there is provided a vent tube l2 and at the bottom thereof a liquid supply pipe l3 which may be connected to a suitable two-way valve l4 between the said pipe l3 and a supply pipe 15 and a drain pipe I6; there being a plug ll rotatable in said valve for selectively directing the flow of liquid through said pipes as desired.

At thefront of the said cabinet, there is provided a door 5 8 which may be sealed against leakage by a suitable packin I9 and locked by means of a locking mechanism such as indicated at 29. It will be noted that there is a space at 2|, between the edge of the shelves and the door I8 when closed and another pace at 22 between the rear of the shelves 6 and the rear Wall 23 of the cabinet.

In the use of the said apparatus for producing ice cubes by my improved method, the trays 1 are first placed within the cabinet 5 upon the shelves 6. The door 18 is then closed and locked into sealed position by meansof the mechanism 20.

The valve plug I1 is then rotated so as to direct a flow of water from the pipe l5 through the said valve and pipe l3 into the cabinet 5. The water will then rise and fill the entire cabinet; the air at the top of the water escaping through the vent pipe I2. As the said cabinetis filled, the water will overflow into and fill each of the trays I.

When the cabinet ha been completely filled, the water supply is shut off by rotating the plug ll a quarter of a revolution in clockwise direction. The surpluswater, which has not entered the trays will then be permitted to drain back through the pipe l3 and out through the pipe IS.

The refrigerant is then permitted to flow through the refrigerating coil Sand the apparatus is allowed to remain in operation for a suitable length of time until all the liquidin the trays is frozen. 1 p

When it is desired to remove the frozen cubes from the trays, the refrigerant is first shut off. The plug I! is then rotated to permit water to again flow into and fill the cabinet 5.

After the water has been permitted to remain for the required period of time to loosen the cubes from the walls of the tray andpartitions, it is again drained from said case by rotating the plug I! to the drainingiposition. The door l8 may then be opened and the trays removed therefrom for emptying them of the frozen ice cubes.

It will be clearly understood, from the above description, that my invention provides a novel and efiicient method for producing ice cubes and causing them to be released from their molds without difficulty by the simple operation of manipulating a valve. I a In the modified form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3, there may be provided a suitable container in the form of a tank 24 having a refrigerant coil 25 secured to the bottom thereof and which is connected to refrigerant supply inlet and outlet pipes 26 and 21.

The said container is also provided with an upper overflow pipe 28 and a lower overflow pipe 29 which may be opened or closed by means of a valve 30.

Water is supplied to, or drained from, the said container by means of a pipe I 3a which is connected to a valve similar to the valve [4 illustrated in Fig. 2.

vThe said apparatus of modified form may be used in freezing liquids, such as for dessert or the :sition .by-the bar 33.

like, into cubes or other shapes by placing the said liquids, as indicated at 3|, into a suitable tray 32, and then placing the said tray within a container 24 and locking it in position by means of a suitable clamping bar 33. In the case of a dessert, after it has been frozen in the tray 32 and it is desiredzto; remove thesaid dessertirom the tray; the valve -3llis first opened'andwater is then permitted to enter into the container 24 through the pipe I 3-a This water will rise only to the level of the pipe 29,,atwwhichleveltitwill overflow through said pipe and will not be per-- mitted to enter into the tray 32.

After the water has remained withinthe com tainer 24 for a suitable per-iodpftime to loosen the frozen dessert 3| from the tray '32,it may be drained therefrom by opening the valve connected to the pipe I3-a. The tray 32 may then be ilifted from the container by removing the clamping bar- 33.

When it isrdesired to produce ice cubes in this ,modified ,form of,apparatus, the 1 tray 3.2 may be placed withiniacontainer 24,and,1ocked in-po- The valve- ,is then closed and water ,is ,permitted to enter .into the soon- ,tainer ,24- to a ,level with ,the overfiow pipe 28 .which wilLpermit the water to ,fill the tray 2. ,The Watenmay then be drained from thecon- .tainerleaving the .tray r3-2. filled.

After .the water .in the .tray ,has frozen, the

valve 3.!) is i opened. and .water is again permitted vvto.-enter thecontainerzd to the levelof the overflow pipe .2 9 to thus loosen .the iceicubes .within vll. An .ice cube producing apparatus of the character described comprising agcabinethaving a =pluralityof shelves therein a plurality of ,containers on said shelves, a door forsaid cabinet, meansfori-sealingssaid dooragainst leakage of l iquid'from the interio-rofrsaid cabinet a liquid supply entering rsaid cabinet through a ,wall thereof for fillingsaid cabinet .withliquid and .causingit to overfiowinto said containers, avent for said cabinet, means for draining-excess liquid=from said cabinet afterthe containers ,have been ,filled, ..refrigeratin g means within saidcabinet for freezing the liquid .within said containers to form ice therein, and a Valve-forcontrollinglthefiow of liquid into saidcabinet.

-2.,An .ice .cube producing :apparatus of the character ,describedcomprising a cabinet having a plurality of shelvesrtherein, a'door on said cab- .Vinet, ,means for .sealing :said idoor .against leakage of liquid rfrom the ,cabinet, a vent at -.theztop ofthe cabinet, a liquid supplyrentering thercabi- .net ,at the flower portion thereof, a plurality of ice cube trays mounted on said shelves; the shelves being spaced from th rear wall of said cabinet to permit liquid entering the cabinet from said supply to rise within the cabinet and fill all of the trays therein, and means for draining the excess liquid from the cabinet.

3.,.An ice cube producing rapparatus of the character described comprising a cabinet having shelves therein arranged to provide a plurality of superimposed compartments in communication with each other,.a door on said cabinet, seal- ;ing means between said door and cabinet to Drevent leakage of liquid from the cabinet, a pluralityrof ice rcube'trays positioned on said shelves, .a liquidsupplypipe entering the cabinet at the lower'portion thereof, and a valve attached to said pipe; the said valve being adapted to both supply liquid to said compartment and permit drainage rof said .liquid therefrom through .said ll p -4..An ice .cube producing -.apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a cabinet havingshelves .therein arrangedtoprovide .a plurality of superimposed compartments, ai'door-on said cabinet, a'sealing' gasket between said door and cabinet, a liquid supply pipe entering thelowenportionxo'f said cabinet, and a plurality of ice cube trays positioned on said shelves; the said shelves being spaced from the said door, when closed, andthe rear-wall of said cabinet to provide communication "therebetween for passageofthe'liquid into each of said compartments from the said liquid supply pipe a vent at the toptof said .cabinetito'permitthesaiti liquid to rise upwardly therein'and fillthesaid trays, ,anda valveattachedto said liquid supply pipe and adapted, when in "one position, 'to direct the liquid ,from a separate pipe into said cabinet through said supply pipe and, when in another position, to "allow drainage of said .iiguid therefrom throughzsaidsupply pipe.

5. An ice cube producing apparatus :as .set forth in claim 4 whereineach or the said shelves is spaced substantially-close to'the' top of-the ice cube tray thereunder in order to preventt-heice cubes'in saidtray from-floating therefrom When the cabinet is filled with liquid and the said liquid -melts the ice cubes and releases them from the said tray.

HAZEN B. BENNETT.

REFERENCES -'CITED The followingireferences are .of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS "N umber Name Date 529,343 Church, "N0v. 13,1894 "297E820 'Arp vApr. 20, 1-937 

